Last week several things came together. I had in the back of my mind that it had been about 2 years since our last update with DirecTV, but hadn't thought a lot about it. Then my wife plopped the latest DTV bill (bundled in with our CenturyLink bill for landline and internet) down in front of me and asked if there was something to do to lower it. This triggered the next thing, was that I realized we were out of contract as of last April. Only way to lower the phone/internet bill in our little Iowa town is to go to Mediacom, which offers faster internet, and at least in the beginning it's cheaper. When it works. So I ultimately rejected it. That leaves 2 options for TV. Stay with DirecTV, or switch back to Dish. We moved from Dish to DirecTV about 5/6 years ago, and had upgraded once, and negotiated lower prices a couple of times. The DirecTV part of the bill was $160.00. We still had Choice Xtra Classic grandfathered for our programming, and since the upgrade 2 years ago had a H44, 3 wireless Genies, and my old H24. We have 1 4K TV, 4 other HDs, and 2 SDs I mirrored that seldom are used. We got the 4k after the last upgrade, so didn't get the H54 at that time.
The other thing that occurred was the Iowa State Fair. Both DirecTV and Dish are always prominently represented, and it gives me the opportunity to talk face to face with someone as well as to look at the equipment. We went last Saturday. Came to the DirecTV booth first and talked with a couple of the guys there, but of course they couldn't really make me any kind of deal like retention could. They did have derogatory things to say about Dish. Walked down to the Dish booth. There I talked with one of the reps about what kind of deal they could make me for the equipment I wanted, and the programming I wanted. Basically, the monthly bill came to $99, for 2 years. Hopper 3 and 4 Joeys. Said I still wanted to check with DirecTV retention. The rep told me the deal they were offering was for the fair, but he did give me a card and said if I got back to them in the next few days I could probably still get it. Wife and I kept on looking at the displays, and when we got to the other side I got stopped by another rep (big booth, went through to both sides.) Told the rep I had already talked with the other guy, but he kept talking. The equipment display was on his side of the booth, so he gave me a demonstration. Talked again about what I needed and what it would cost. As the first rep had done, he encouraged me to set an installation date, then I could talk with DirecTV retention, and if they made me a really good deal I could cancel. Told him we were going to go get some ice cream and I'd think about it. Which we did, and at that point I told my wife we were going to go back and set up the installation date. So we did. The two reps I talked to split the commission. I don't think the deal I got was a whole lot different than I would have gotten anywhere else, but I'm getting:
Top 200
Hopper 3
4 Joeys
an Echo Dot
Free Sports Pack
HBO free for a year
Other movie channels for 3 months
$50 off my first months bill since I wasn't interested in the Mayweather fight.
and we'll be mirroring the 2 SD TVs like I am now.
When I got home I called DirectV I called retention and told them I needed my bill as close to $100 as possible, 4K equipment, and retention of the same channels I had. And I needed a price guarantee for 2 years. The best she could do for 2 years was $130 a month, plus the NFL Sunday Ticket, which is not what I wanted. If I would have settled for a 1 year guarantee she could have gotten it to $120, and then I would have been up to about $140 again the second year. So I said no. I have to call back Monday to actually order the disconnect, they can't schedule it for the future. They did call yesterday, my wife talked to them, and they were supposed to be calling me, but I have not heard anything. It will be interesting to see if I still get a call offering me a better deal before Monday.
About 10 years ago I signed up for Dish the first time. At the Iowa State Fair. Looking forward to the new setup. We are planning on retirement in 3 years, so being out of contract at that time will be beneficial, since at this point we still have no idea where we will end up. We'll see who will make us the best deal then, wherever it is we are.
The other thing that occurred was the Iowa State Fair. Both DirecTV and Dish are always prominently represented, and it gives me the opportunity to talk face to face with someone as well as to look at the equipment. We went last Saturday. Came to the DirecTV booth first and talked with a couple of the guys there, but of course they couldn't really make me any kind of deal like retention could. They did have derogatory things to say about Dish. Walked down to the Dish booth. There I talked with one of the reps about what kind of deal they could make me for the equipment I wanted, and the programming I wanted. Basically, the monthly bill came to $99, for 2 years. Hopper 3 and 4 Joeys. Said I still wanted to check with DirecTV retention. The rep told me the deal they were offering was for the fair, but he did give me a card and said if I got back to them in the next few days I could probably still get it. Wife and I kept on looking at the displays, and when we got to the other side I got stopped by another rep (big booth, went through to both sides.) Told the rep I had already talked with the other guy, but he kept talking. The equipment display was on his side of the booth, so he gave me a demonstration. Talked again about what I needed and what it would cost. As the first rep had done, he encouraged me to set an installation date, then I could talk with DirecTV retention, and if they made me a really good deal I could cancel. Told him we were going to go get some ice cream and I'd think about it. Which we did, and at that point I told my wife we were going to go back and set up the installation date. So we did. The two reps I talked to split the commission. I don't think the deal I got was a whole lot different than I would have gotten anywhere else, but I'm getting:
Top 200
Hopper 3
4 Joeys
an Echo Dot
Free Sports Pack
HBO free for a year
Other movie channels for 3 months
$50 off my first months bill since I wasn't interested in the Mayweather fight.
and we'll be mirroring the 2 SD TVs like I am now.
When I got home I called DirectV I called retention and told them I needed my bill as close to $100 as possible, 4K equipment, and retention of the same channels I had. And I needed a price guarantee for 2 years. The best she could do for 2 years was $130 a month, plus the NFL Sunday Ticket, which is not what I wanted. If I would have settled for a 1 year guarantee she could have gotten it to $120, and then I would have been up to about $140 again the second year. So I said no. I have to call back Monday to actually order the disconnect, they can't schedule it for the future. They did call yesterday, my wife talked to them, and they were supposed to be calling me, but I have not heard anything. It will be interesting to see if I still get a call offering me a better deal before Monday.
About 10 years ago I signed up for Dish the first time. At the Iowa State Fair. Looking forward to the new setup. We are planning on retirement in 3 years, so being out of contract at that time will be beneficial, since at this point we still have no idea where we will end up. We'll see who will make us the best deal then, wherever it is we are.
